Artist Bios | kearnystreet

Asian Americans Coast to Coast: Honoring Our Literary Ancestors

(as part of Reclaiming Our Roots: APA Arts-Activism 1960s–NOW)

In Memoriam:

Throughout Al Robles’ (1930–2009) years he was a poet, a jazz pianist, a tireless advocate for the Manong generation of Filipinos, and a community leader whose work has been an inspiration to many generations of Asian Pacific Americans in the Bay Area and abroad. His two published works are Looking for Ifugao Mountain: Paghahanap Sa Bundok Ng Ifugao 1977 by Children’s Book Press,’and Rappin’ with Ten Thousand Carabaos in the Dark, published (1992) by UCLA Asian American Writers Center.

Jeff Tagami’s (1954–2012) collection of poems, October Light (KSW Press) is a lasting testament to the struggles of Asian agricultural workers in the Central Valley. The book’s exploration of the lives of Filipino farmworkers and their families has made this one of the more important documents of Filipino and Asian immigrant history.

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Featured Peformers:

Shirley Ancheta co-edited the poetry anthology Without Names (KSW Press), one of the first such collections by Filipino American poets. She works as an instructor at Cabrillo College.

Jason Bayani is the author of "Amulet" from Write Bloody Press. He's an MFA grad from Saint Mary's College, a Kundiman fellow, and is currently the program manager for Kearny Street Workshop.

Jade Cho is a poet and educator from Oakland, California. Her first collection of poetry, In the Tongue of Ghosts, is forthcoming with Youth Speaks’ First Word Press.

Caitlyn Clark burst onto the scene when she became the Youth Speaks Grand Slam Champion at the age of fifteen. Caitlyn recently performed at the Hollywood Bowl in John Legend's tribute to Marvin Gaye.

Karl Evangelista ranks among a new wave of creative musicians grounded in jazz. Signal to Noise magazine hails Evangelista as "one of the most original instrumentalists and composers of his generation."